# NTSB ERA21LA216: Cessna 172, N5170K, Gulf Shores, AL, May 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 13, 2021, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL · Abeam the west end of the fixed distance marker about 261 ft north of the north edge of the runway. - Coordinates: 30.291095, -87.675045 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2911&lon=-87.6750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103085/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103085 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA216 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control during an attempted go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were approaching the runway for landing. The flight instructor described that during the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline, and as the student attempted to apply corrective control inputs, the flight instructor told the student to abort the landing. After the student hesitated, the flight instructor took control of the airplane while it was “…in a nose high attitude, slow and banked left.” The flight instructor increased engine power to full, retracted the flaps to 20 degrees, but noted that the airplane was slow and struggling to climb. The flight instructor then lost directional control of the airplane and elected to continue straight ahead and land. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area off the left side of the runway and the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5170K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5170K-2023-08-04), registration cancelled 2023-08-04, S/N 17273997, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273997 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skywarrior Flight Training Inc - Registered owner: Skywarrior Flight Training Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 8, 2021, 53 hours before - Departed: CQF, Fairhope, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: JKA, Jack Edwards Ntl, runway 09/27, 6,962 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,244 total, 604 in this make and model, 1,207 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3 total, 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KJKA - METAR: KJKA 132255Z AUTO 02003KT 10SM BKN038 23/14 A3014 RMK AO2 T02250140 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210513002029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210513002029A), May 13, 2021: Cessna 172N, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. While on final approach to runway 35 at jka, a student was flying and had difficulty in getting the airplane lined up with the centerline and allowed the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103085. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12295502&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report%20-%20N5170K%20-%2020%20MAY%202021_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Occupant statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 904 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12379446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Occupant%20Initial%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 996 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12379926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12380073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20N5170K_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.